Arlene Hall

Arlene Marie McElroy Hall, daughter of Arthur and Lena Stebler McElroy and the third of three children, was born in Colony, Oklahoma on July 20, 1932. She passed away peacefully on April 25, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama, joining her cherished husband of 65 years, Leo Hall (dec. 2018). She is survived by her six children, Mike Hall (Cathy Wright), Jeanne Hall (Karen Watts, dec. 2021), Tim Hall, Kira Hall (Donna Goldstein), Jeff Hall (Heather Levy Hall), and Christopher Hall, thirteen grandchildren (David, Nathan, Elizabeth, Wolfe, Justin, Philip, Leo, Lucas, Sofia, Gregory, Grayson, Emerson, Keaton), six great grandchildren (Dalton, Louie, Arthur, Skylar, Josiah, and Imani), and numerous nieces and nephews and their dozens of descendants.

Arlene Hall arrived in Birmingham in 1966 with her family, when her husband Leo Hall took a position as professor at the UAB School of Medicine. Born into a family of humble means, Arlene spent her early life on a farm near Westville, Oklahoma, graduating from Westville High School in 1948 at age 15. She often said that even though she grew up poor, her life was full of riches. It was on the farm that she came to love reading books, playing cards, and reciting poetry, all activities she relished until the day she died. But her greatest treasure was her husband Leo, whom she met at Oklahoma A&M while studying public relations and drama. After a courtship made for the story books, she and Leo married in the Catholic Church in Stroud, Oklahoma in 1953. She was proud to have graduated from college at the early age of 19 and took a job teaching speech and English at Stroud High School. More treasures were born soon thereafter: two in Madison, two in Charlottesville, and two in Birmingham. She devoted her life to her children, instilling in them her belief in civil rights and the value of all people. She grew with her children as they grew with her. She had a way of making each member of her extended family feel uniquely special.

Arlene was a kind, smart, and witty human being who believed in the essential goodness of everyone she met. Arlene and Leo were married for 65 years, and every day with him brought her happiness. Her faith was tremendously important to her: she and Leo spent 50 active years in Homewood's Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. In her later years, she returned to her passion for the theater and joined Birmingham’s Seasoned Performers, a dynamic ensemble of actors aged 55 to 95 who perform across the state of Alabama. She had admirers in every location who loved to see her on stage. She enjoyed life to the fullest, whether it was playing bridge with her friends at Galleria Woods, reading a good book, working a crossword puzzle, or reciting her favorite lines. She had a poem for every occasion. She will be dearly missed.

Visitation is Sunday, May 4, between 2:00 and 4:00 at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood. The funeral service is Monday, May 5, at 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Lunch will be served on the church grounds after the service. Donations can be made in Arlene Hall's name to The Seasoned Performers of Red Mountain Theater at the embedded link (specify “Arlene Hall” as the Dedication Honoree) or by check to PO Box 278, Birmingham, AL 35201. https://rmtc.my.salesforce-sites.com/donate/?dfId=a0n5b00001Be5BgAAJ